Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-02
M1sfelIanenns.
where Do They Come From?

and bordering over it, as he walks along
behind this range of stalls where scores
and scores of these splendid working oxen
and steers are contributing their quota
and a no inconsiderable one-to the in
terest of the successful Eastern Maine
Fair. They are both a study and a
picture. Large in form. perfect in out
line, handsomely colored. matched up in
size, shape of horns, and markings, like
as two speckled kindey beans from the
same pod can be. the genuine lover OF
good oxen and steers is at a loss to know
who raises them, and where they come
from. There must be good blood and
good care back of these animals some
where and they are so positive credit
to Maine farmers, especially to our breed
ers and cattle feeders. that it is worth
while to enquire into their ancestry.
But first look at some OF these magnificent
animals.
Mr.. B. P. J. Weston of Madison, a
large farmer and active business man,
much interested in the improvement OF
the water power at Madison Bridge. and
a large owner in the new factories now
building there, shows five yoke of splendid
cattle Their size and girth are as fol-
lows: one pair 5-year-old. girth z it. in. ;
weight, 1920 lbs; one pair 5-yearold.
girth #. in. weight, 1880 lbs. one pair
6 year-old. girth 8 #. weight, 1880 lbs. {;
one pair 6-year old, girth it. weight 1900
lbs. and one pair 6-year-old, girth 8 it..
in. weight, 1920 lbs. These are all
grade Hereford. are handsomely colored
and we'll matched.
Gen. r. B. Shepard Skowhegan, trus-
tee of our State College, whose farm is
the old home farm of his father, the late
Job Shepard, in Fairfield, exhibits string
of ten one-year old steers, and twelve two
year-olds. The average girth of the former
is 6 #. in. and of the latter z it. 2 in.
to the pair. The whole string of eleven
yoke is remarkably uniform, we'll made
up. and finely developed lot of steers.
These are also all high grade or cross
bred Herefords.
But here is the finest band of oxen on
the entire show ground, lot of thirteen
pairs. owned by that young "cattle king"
of Maine, Mr.. Everett N. Bailey, of Win
throp Centre who, besides being sue
cessful business man, is also a represent
alive farmer, of whom all Maine farmers
have reason to be proud Just read over
the particulars of this long string of mag
niicent workers.
There are five pairs of 3.year-olds, four
pairs of 4-year olds, one pair of 5-year.
olds, and three pairs of yearolds. The
size and weight OF these are given: Three
-olds-one pair girth 1T. 2 in. weight,
1915 lbs ; one pair girth 7 it. 2 in. weight,
$500 lbs. F; one pair girth 7 it. Z in. weight,
$500 lbs, and one pair girth 7 fit. 7 in,
weight, 5000 lbs. Four-year- olds-one
pair girth fit. in, weight, 1928; one
pair girth #. 10 in, weight, $500 lbs.
one PAIR girth fit. in, weight. 1886
lbs, and one pair girth it. II in. weight
ALSO lbs. One pair 5-year-olds-girth
fl. II in, weight, 1925 lbs. Six-year
olds-one pair girth 8 #. in. weight, A.,
700 lbs. one pair girth 8 fit. 2 in, weight
5000 lbs, ard one pair girth 8 it. in.
weight, 1890 pounds.
There are other splendid working oxer
and steers upon the show ground but We
do not mention them because this article
is little study rather than report OF the
fair, so if we do not mention the names o
other exhibitors they may know it is no
because their fine animals were not noticed
These oxen and steers have had good
pasture this season. we have no doubt, and
perhaps some of them have had an occa-
sional mess of shorts. Little doubt OF
that also. Good feed makes good animals.
But at the same time there must always be
good blood back of good feeding, or good
feeding is liable to become too costly to
continue for any great length of time. The
"scrub" animal is not a good feeder; but
the high blooded, cross bred, or thorough
bred animal takes on flesh kindly and re-
turns a good and an immediate growth for
extra feed.
From all these exhibitors we make the
inquiry, where do these big cattle come
from ?" and they each answer it in about
the same way. This answer shows that
wav back in the line of breeding there
have been some choice, good blooded
thoroughbred bulls; and that in the local
tiles where these big steers were picked
up have been farmers, who. for years, have
been interested in improving the stock
OF their neighborhood, and always anxious
to get hold of the best bred male animals
they can find. There is no surer method
of making improvements in our neat stock
than this; and the farmers who are en-
gagged in breeding are comforting vast
benefit to our agriculture by so doing.
And in most all cases it will be found that
an infusion OF thoroughbred Hereford
blood. through a well-bred sire, is the
surest method of bringing up the size,
quality and value of our grade animals.